Ghana’s historic collaboration with the European Union (EU) will be strengthened, especially in the area of sustainable forest governance, according to Minister of Lands and Natural Resources Hon. Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah.
He declared that by June 30, 2025, Ghana is expected to provide its first Forest Law Enforcement, Governance, and Trade (FLEGT) License.
Ghana will become the first nation in Africa and the second globally to accomplish this milestone.
The European Union Ambassador to Ghana, H.E. Irchad Razaaly, paid the Minister a courtesy call during which he delivered this news.
The meeting offered a chance to consider the long-standing bilateral cooperation between Ghana and the EU and investigate potential areas of future cooperation.
The EU is one of Ghana’s most important trading partners, accounting for almost 14% of trade volumes in 2022, according to Hon. Buah, who highlighted the Union’s crucial position in Ghana’s external trade.
In reference to the Voluntary Partnership Agreement (VPA), which was approved by Parliament in 2009, the Minister pointed out that Ghana has strengthened its forest governance mechanisms significantly.
“All is set for the issuance of Ghana’s first FLEGT License. The only outstanding task is the ratification of a second batch of Timber Utilization Contracts (TUCs), which we expect Parliament to address after the Easter break,” he stated.
The Minister highlighted the need for increased collaboration in a number of areas going forward, such as technology, capacity building, and logistical investments to support the implementation of the Ghana Legality Assurance System (GhLAS) and the Wood Tracking System (WTS).
Additionally, he called on the EU to support the Tree for Life Reforestation Initiative and the development of large-scale commercial plants.
The Minister also underlined additional areas that need help, including technical assistance to modernize the timber industry, land reclamation, restoration of contaminated water bodies, and logistical support in the ongoing battle against illicit mining.
Additionally, he emphasized the necessity of climate finance in order to support sustainable forest management.
Hon. Buah anticipated a more robust and successful collaboration in the years to come and thanked the EU for its ongoing assistance to Ghana’s environmental and natural resources sectors.
Source: newsthemegh.com